JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia — The 2026 Supercopa de España kicks off this week in the sun-drenched stadiums of Saudi Arabia, pitting Spain's football elite against one another in a high-stakes tournament that has evolved from a modest preseason affair into a multimillion-euro spectacle. Barcelona, the defending champions, will face Athletic Club in the first semifinal on Wednesday at the Alinma Stadium in King Abdullah Sports City here in Jeddah, while Thursday's matchup features a heated Madrid derby between Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid. The winners will clash in Sunday's final, with all eyes on whether another chapter in the storied rivalry between Barcelona and Real Madrid awaits.
The tournament, now in its seventh year under the expanded 'final four' format, brings together the top performers from LaLiga and the Copa del Rey. Barcelona earned their spot as winners of both competitions last season, while Real Madrid qualified as runners-up in each. Atlético Madrid and Athletic Club rounded out the field by finishing third and fourth in LaLiga, respectively. This marks the fourth appearance for both Atlético and Athletic in the modern Supercopa, though only Barcelona and Real Madrid have been ever-present since the format's inception in 2020.
Historically, the Supercopa was a two-legged tie between the LaLiga champion and Copa del Rey winner, often dismissed as a summer friendly generating little excitement or revenue. That changed in 2019 when the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) struck a deal to host the event in Saudi Arabia, initially for three years and later extended through 2029. The agreement, brokered by Gerard Piqué's company Kosmos under then-RFEF president Luis Rubiales, shifted the tournament to January and expanded it to include semifinals and a final among four teams. It's worth around €40 million per season to Spanish football, a stark contrast to the €1 million it generated in its final pre-Saudi edition.
Current RFEF president Rafael Louzan defended the arrangement in October, emphasizing its financial benefits. "The last time this tournament was played before going to Arabia, it generated €1 million," Louzan said. "This edition will generate €51 million, directly for Spanish football." The deal includes incentives for Saudi organizers, particularly the allure of a competitive Clásico between Barcelona and Real Madrid, with penalty clauses if either club fails to qualify. The event has been held twice in Jeddah and three times in Riyadh, with the 2021 edition remaining in Spain due to COVID-19 restrictions.
For Barcelona, this Supercopa represents an opportunity to extend their trophy haul under coach Hansi Flick, who has led the club to three titles in his 18 months at the helm. The Catalan giants begin their defense against Athletic Club, a side they've dominated recently, including a 4-0 LaLiga victory in November. Athletic, however, enters the tournament on shaky ground, with 12 defeats in 26 games across all competitions this season. Their most recent result was a 1-1 draw at Osasuna on Saturday, and key winger Nico Williams has managed just three goals, his last in November.
Despite Barcelona's nine-game winning streak, their form has been uneven, relying on standout performances like goalkeeper Joan García's heroics in Saturday's 2-0 win over Espanyol in the Catalan Derby. Analysts suggest Athletic's pace, embodied by the Williams brothers — Nico and Iñaki — could exploit Barcelona's high defensive line, but the Basque side's struggles make them underdogs. Athletic did claim the Supercopa in 2021, defeating Barcelona 3-2 after extra time in a final played in Seville amid the pandemic, providing a reminder that upsets are possible in this format.
Thursday's semifinal promises fireworks as Real Madrid, coached by Xabi Alonso, seeks redemption against Atlético Madrid. The sides last met in September, when Atlético routed Real 5-2 at the Metropolitano in what was described as Real's worst performance of the season and a low point for Alonso's tenure. Atlético, under Diego Simeone, appeared poised for a title challenge earlier but stumbled with back-to-back losses to Barcelona and Athletic before Christmas. Their latest outing was a 1-1 draw at Real Sociedad on Sunday.
Real Madrid, meanwhile, showed signs of revival with a 5-1 thrashing of Real Betis on the same day, even without star striker Kylian Mbappé, who suffered a knee sprain. Youngster Gonzalo García stepped up with a hat trick in that match. Alonso remained coy about Mbappé's availability for the Supercopa when questioned over the weekend, adding uncertainty to Real's preparations. The coach, known for his tactical flexibility, is under pressure after a mixed first half of the season, with his future at the club potentially hinging on this tournament.
ESPN analysts Alex Kirkland and Sam Marsden previewed the matchups, with Kirkland predicting a likely Clásico final but not ruling out a Barcelona-Atlético showdown. "Barcelona will be strong favorites to beat Athletic in Wednesday's first semifinal," Kirkland wrote. "But wouldn't rule out it being Barcelona vs. Atlético, either." Marsden highlighted the Madrid derby's intrigue, noting Real's quest for revenge and Atlético's earlier dominance.
The Supercopa has delivered memorable moments since adopting its current format. In the 2020 final, Real Madrid edged Atlético 4-1 on penalties after a 0-0 draw, highlighted by Federico Valverde's controversial red-card challenge on Álvaro Morata in extra time. Atlético's Simeone later reflected on it with a mix of frustration and admiration: "I think it makes sense to give him the award because he won the game with that challenge. I told him [when he was sent off] that anyone would have done the same in his place." Valverde was named player of the match despite the sending-off.
That year's semifinal was equally dramatic: Atlético stunned Barcelona 3-2 with late goals from Álvaro Morata and Ángel Correa, contributing to the sacking of then-Barça coach Ernesto Valverde — now Athletic's manager. The 2021 final saw Athletic upset Barcelona 3-2 after extra time, with Asier Villalibre's late equalizer and Iñaki Williams' winner, followed by Lionel Messi's red card. Villalibre's post-match trumpet celebration became an iconic image of Athletic's joy.
Last season's final was a rout, as Barcelona defeated Real Madrid 5-2, responding to Mbappé's early goal with four before halftime and holding firm after Wojciech Szczęsny's red card. It marked the first of three trophies in Flick's debut season and one of four Clásico wins for Barça. The 2024 semifinal between Real and Atlético was a nine-goal thriller, ending 5-3 after extra time for Madrid, featuring three comebacks and goals from seven different scorers, including Antonio Rüdiger at both ends. Carlo Ancelotti, then Real's coach, summed up the exhaustion: "We don't enjoy matches like this. The wear and tear has been tremendous."
Real Madrid's 2024 campaign also included a 4-1 final win over Barcelona, powered by Vinícius Júnior's hat trick. The trend of Clásico finals is evident: the last three editions — 2023, 2024, and 2025 — all featured Barcelona versus Real Madrid, delighting Saudi organizers. Whether that repeats in 2026 remains to be seen, but the semifinals set the stage for potential drama.
Betting odds reflect Barcelona's favoritism, listed at -425 on DraftKings, followed by Real Madrid at -130, Atlético at +105, and Athletic at +310. Beyond the pitch, the tournament underscores the growing global reach of Spanish football, blending competition with lucrative partnerships. As the business end of the LaLiga season approaches, the Supercopa serves as a vital barometer for title aspirations.
With Barcelona aiming for a fourth trophy under Flick and Real Madrid looking to reclaim supremacy, the coming days in Jeddah could reshape narratives around Spain's big three — and perhaps Athletic's underdog story. Fans in the U.S. can stream all matches live on ESPN+, while the world watches to see if the Saudis get their coveted Clásico once more.